Red Raiders Football notebook

Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Line: Three stand out

Texas Tech offensive line coach Matt Moore said Tuesday that left tackle Rylan Reed, center Shawn Byrnes and right guard Brandon Carter had been his top three players during training camp. All three have consistently gotten high marks from him in workouts.

"Rylan Reed has really been a surprise, because he's been very steady,'' Moore said. "Not made many mistakes.''

Moore said Byrnes sets a tone of urgency for the line and pushes the others to work hard.

Carter didn't have any setbacks from the bad back that kept him out of spring.

"Brandon Carter really had a great camp,'' Moore said. "He's really hard on himself. He wants to be perfect. He wants to be a great player. He's been real steady all camp.''

Moore characterized Jake Johnson as the surprise of camp after the walk-on transfer from Blinn College was promoted to first team right tackle this week.

Johnson's insertion triggered a shuffling of Reed from right tackle to left tackle and Louis Vasquez from left tackle to left guard.

Get low, get low

Sophomore offensive lineman Marlon Winn, who was bumped from the starting unit this week, will back up at both left tackle and left guard.

"He was just playing a little high,'' line coach Matt Moore said. "He was getting pushed around a little bit playing a little high. He's a tall guy with a high center of gravity.

"But he didn't drop his head or stick out his lip when he got bumped. He's determined he's going to be a starter before it's all said and done, and I hope he is.''

Harrell on watch list

Quarterback Graham Harrell is one of 35 players on the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award announced Tuesday. The award goes to the nation's top quarterback.

Other Big 12 Conference quarterbacks on the list are Missouri's Chase Daniel and Texas' Colt McCoy.

The winner will be announced Dec. 6. The award presentation is scheduled for Feb. 18 in Fort Worth, where the trophy's namesake played his college football for TCU.

Earlier this month, Harrell was one of 35 candidates named to the Manning Award watch list. The award also goes to a top quarterback.

Crowell gets the call

Robbie Crowell, manager of Tech's Football Training Facility and an assistant equipment manager, spent last week umpiring at the Junior League World Series in Taylor, Mich.

The tournament was the world championship for 13- and 14-year-olds youth baseball.

"It's probably been the biggest thing I've done so far,'' said Crowell, a Coronado and Tech graduate who has called games for 20 years.

Crowell was behind the plate for the international championship game and worked the right-field line during the world title game in which Hawaii beat the Philippines. He called 12 games in seven days.

Crowell is vice president in charge of training for the local Little League chapter.

In brief

Today will be the first day off from practice for Tech players since workouts started on Aug. 7. They were treated to ice cream after Tuesday's workout. ... Strong-side DE Brandon Sharpe remained on crutches and in an orthopedic boot Tuesday. Tech does not disclose the nature or severity of injuries.